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Tire Tightener. No. 231,102. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

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a -11 E J Wiiiwwaax iiv/w iwz MPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 0c

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrciz.

EZRA P. ROSS, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HISRIGHT TO J. FRANK BEHNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

TIRE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,102, dated August10, 1880.

Application filed June 7, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA P. Ross, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Tighteners;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to IO which itappertains to make and use the same,

reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of devicesfor adjusting the felly of a wheel upon the spokes of the same,consisting of a clamp by which it may be secured to the spokes and ascrew-threaded 2o shaft provided with a fixed collar operating a movabledog bearing against the inside of the folly to distend the same.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved means ofoperating the screw- 2 5 threaded shaft and for securing the clamp tothe spokes, whereby all detached parts are dispensed with and a compactand convenient device is made in which the parts are all connectedpermanently together in position ready 0 for immediate use. Theseobjects I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improveddevice; Fig. 2, a front elevation 3 5 thereof, and Fig. 3 a detachedview of the clamp.

The letter A indicates a clamp formed in two parts, a b,hinged togetherat B on one side. The said clamp on the opposite side is pro- 0 videdwith two lugs, d e, on each part, and between the lugs 61 is pivotedthesquare head of a screw-threaded pin, 0, the threaded end of which isprovided with a clamping-nut, D, having a handle, E, by which it may beoperated.

5 The said pin is adapted to swing upon its pivots, by means of which itcan be thrown into position between the lugs e, and the parts a b firmlyand securely clamped to the spoke by the screw-nut D.

The letter F indicates a vertical shaft pro other end.

(No model.)

vided with a permanent crank, G, at one end, and screw-threaded, asshown at H, at the The said shaft is journaled in bearings I on the parta of the clamp, and between the two bearings, and fitted to the screw- 55 threaded portion of the shaft, is located a screw-nut, K, one edge ofwhich abuts against the face 9 of the part a to prevent turning andcause the shaft to travel back or forth as the shaft is rotated.

The letter L indicates a lixed collar on the shaft F, and M aloosely-fitted forked or bifurcated dog mounted upon said shaft abovethe collar, the upper ends of which straddle the spoke and are adaptedto set under the innor side of the folly.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The clamp is openedon its hinge and placed upon-one of the spokes, when the parts arebrought together and clamped by means of the pivoted pin andclamping-screw. The bifurcated parts of the dog are placed against theinner edge of the felly, and upon rotating the screw-shaft in the properdirection by means of the crank it will be elevated, the collar thereonelevating the bifurcated dog and lifting the felly away from the end ofthe spoke a sufficient distance to admit of the insertion of a splitwasher of leather orother similar material,by means of which thefellymaybe tight- 8o ened upon the wheel readily and conveniently.

It will be seen that as constructed the parts of the device are allpermanently connected together and are not liable to be lost, and thatthe device is always in a condition ready for immediate use.

I am aware that clamps constructed in two parts and adapted to forciblygrasp and hold a spoke by means of securing bolts, nuts, and the like,have been employed heretofore in con- 0 nection with a stock and athreaded shaft, and having a dog for a similarpurpose; but in all suchdevices known to me the clamping-bolts were passed through holes made inflanges upon the spoke-clamp, and a wrench or other 5 separate tool wasnecessary for successfuloperation of the device.

In my device there is an entirety and no separate or disconnectedpieces. It may be operated in the dark as well as in the light, as

there are no holes through which bolts must the hinged clamp A B I, thelever-nut D E, pass, and hence register therewith. screw-nut K, shaft F,having fixed crank G Iattach greatimportance to thehinged spokeandcollar L, and the bifurcated loose dog M, 15 clamp A,incontradistinction to a clamp made all constructed, arranged, andcombined to op- 5 1n sections and held by bolts and nuts, and erate asand for the purposes herein set forth.

also to the pivoted threaded bolt 0, adapted to In testimony whereofIaffix my signature in operatewithin the jaws e, as shown, and to thepresence of two witnesses.

lever-nut D E used in connection therewith. D

What I claiin as new is- Boss 10 The tire tightener herein described,COlIl- Witnesses:

posed of the threaded bolt 0, pivoted between J 0s. REINHARD,

the lugs d and operating between the lugs eof MORRIS B. FLIOKINGER.

